Big drop for JSE Main market

Stocks mostly fell at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 40 percent and the value 42 percent lower than in trading on Tuesday, with activity in 56 securities compared with 61 on Tuesday, with prices of 15 stocks rising, 28 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 19,510,472 shares at $158,059,371 compared with 32,587,303 units at $270,744,190 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 348,401 shares at $2,822,489 compared to 534,218 units at $4,438,429 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 1,492,956 units at $3,093,232, in comparison with 1,628,463 units at $3,125,286 on the previous day and February with an average of 385,143 units at $3,418,046.
Carreras led trading with 5.35 million shares for 27.4 percent of total volume followed by General Accident with 4.01 million units for 20.5 percent of the day’s trade, Wigton Windfarm ended with 3.76 million units for 19.3 percent market share, Transjamaican Highway chipped in with 2.44 million units for 12.5 percent of stocks traded and Scotia Group ended with 1.01 million units for 5.2 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 4,423.34 points to 366,211.78, the JSE Main Index declined 3,917.90 points to 326,885.56 and the JSE Financial Index lost 1.87 points to end at 69.15.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.7. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 15 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Producers lost 40 cents in closing at $9.70 after trading 3,872 units, Carreras shed 45 cents to $8.50 in an exchange of 5,349,769 stocks, Eppley dropped $5.78 and ended at $34.72 with 22 shares clearing the market. GraceKennedy sank $1.25 to end at $73.75 after a transfer of 109,384 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 30 cents to close at $10.30 with investors swapping 37,882 shares, JMMB Group declined 50 cents to $26, with 84,139 stocks crossing the market. Kingston Properties dipped 42 cents to close at $7.08 after exchanging 2,566 units, Mayberry Group popped 35 cents in closing at $7.50 with an exchange of 2,041 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $5 to $85 with an exchange of 35 shares. NCB Financial skidded 60 cents to $68.15 with investors dealing in 10,964 stocks, 138 Student Living rose 38 cents to $4.20 in an exchange of 108,694 units, Pan Jamaica lost $3.40 to close at $46.80, with 585 stock units changing hands. Proven Investments gained $2.02 to end at $23.82 with an exchange of 662 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rallied 46 cents in closing at $7.65 after 200 stock units passed through the market, Scotia Group fell $4.05 and ended at $43 with investors trading 1,010,596 units. Seprod sank $2.95 to $82.05, with 33,062 stocks crossing the market, Stanley Motta increased 65 cents to end at $7.50 with traders dealing in 8,000 units, Supreme Ventures declined 41 cents in closing at $24.54 as investors exchanged 28,966 stocks. Sygnus Credit Investments shed 59 cents to close at $10.63 in trading 92,189 shares and Wisynco Group advanced 55 cents and ended at $21.05 after an exchange of 364,778 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.